Motor-control system for electrically-operated windshield cleaners



Nov. 30 1926.

A. G. M CALEB MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED WINDSHIELDCLEANERS Filed Feb. 9. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A is gill/ awn Nov. 301926.

A. G. M CALEB.

MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELEGTRICALLY OPERATED WINDSHIELD CLEANERS FiledFei. 9. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

um'rso STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT G .KOCALEB, OF OAK PA RK ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, BY EESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOTOR-CONTROL svs'rnu ron ELECTBICALLY-OPERATED wmnsnmnn cnrnmms.

Application filed February 9, 1922. Serial No. 535,269.

This invention relates to windshield cleaners and particularly toelectrically operated cleaners of the continuously oscillating type.

The object of the present invention is to provide a cleaner of thiskind, whlch w1l l be compact in structure,efiic1ent in operatlon, andconsist of few parts of simple construction.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of an operatingmotor for a windshield cleaner, and means for reversing the currenttherethrough at proper intervals.

Another feature of the invention is the arrangement which permits acircuit shifting device to be mounted within a very small space. Y

Other features and advantages will appear from time to time as thedescriptlon of the invention progresses.

In the drawings which illustrate certain embodiments of applicantsinvention,

Figure 1 is a view showing a portion of an automobile windshield withthe cleaner at-' tached thereto;

Figure 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of -Figure 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows; s

Figure 4 1s a section on the hne 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a side view of the device with a portion of the housingremoved;

Figure 8 is a. section on the line Figure 6; I

Figure 9 is a diagram schematically indicating the operating circuit forthe embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6 is a section on theline 6 6 of Figure 10 is a side elevation of a modified form ofapplicants invention, showing the manner in which it is attached to anautomobile windshield;

Figure 11 is a view substantially on the line 1111 of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a section on the line 1212 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of Figure 11; and

Fi re 15 is a diagram schematically indicatlng the circuit andcontrollingdevice therefor used in the embodiment 'of the inventionshown in Figures 10 to 14.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference charactersindicate corresponding parts in the several views, 20 indicates a motorwhich may be of any preferred design. The present invention, however,contemplates amotor which is provid ed with field windings, and rotarywindings to which current is supplied through a commutator. As motors ofthis character are old and well-known the details thereof are not shownin the present disclosure.

To the motor shaft 21 is secured the worm 22. vThe worm 22 is arrangedto mesh with the gear sector 23, fixed to the shaft 24, suitablyjournaled in the cleaner housing 25.

will be seen that rotary movement of the motor shaft 21 istransmitted'through the worm 22, gear sector 23, shaft 24 and arm 26, tothe squeegee 27.

In cleaners of this type, it is customary to oscillate the cleaner armback and forth through an arc of substantially 100. Applicant is enabledto accomplish this operation by the provision of means which at anappropriate stage in the movement of the cleaner arm operates to reversethe current flow through the rotating windings of the motor 20. Thiscurrent reversing means consists of a snap switch and operating meanstherefor which will now be described. At 28 is shown a substantiallyU-shaped metallic strip, which forms the framework or 33 is'a sleeve 36.A. tension spring 37 is joined at one end to the pin 35, and at itsother end to the sleeve 36. Thus, Whenever one of the U-shaped members,as 32, 1s

' moved past the center as to the right in Figure 6, the other member 33will immediately be snapped to its extreme right hand position by thetension of the sprlng 37. The movement of the U-shaped members 32 and 33is limited by the portions of the frame 28 with which they engage. 1

Extending loosely through the sleeve 36 is a pin 38 provided with theflange 39, to which is secured the insulating washer 40. Mounted in theinsulating washer 40 in any desired manner is a ring 41, of conductingmaterial. Ring 41 is arranged to have its lateral surface lie flush orslightly above the surface of the insulating washer 39. Ring 41, as willpresently appear, forms one of the movable contacts of the switchingdevice. The portion 42 of pin 38 which extends through the insulatingwasher 40 forms the other movable terminal of the switching device. Itmay be here explained that the pin 38 and the contact 42 are grounded bybeing connected to the cleaner housing through the associated parts.

The fixed contacts of the switching device are four in number, and eachis in the nature of a pin 43 (see Figure 8) fixed in the insulatingblock 44. The contact members, as 43, are arranged to have their facesadjacent to the movable portion of the switch .ing device lie flush withor slightly above the corresponding surface of the insulating block 44.The conductors leading to the terminals of the motor are joined to thecontacts, as 43.

Referring now to Figure 9, two contacts 43 and 43 are shown, which areadapted to be engaged by the contact 42, and two contacts 45 and 45' areshown, which are arranged to be engaged by the contact ring 41. It willbe noted that contacts 43 and 45 are both connected to the conductor 46,joined to one of the commutator brushes of the motor,

and the contacts 43 and 45 are connected toa conductor 47 extending tothe other commutator brush of the motor. A source of electrical energy,as the ordinary storage battery of the automobile, is indicated at 48.The live or ungrounded pole of the battery is connected through thefield windings 49 of the motor to the resistance of a rheostat generallyindicated at 50. (shown in detail in Figure 4). The movable contact 51of the rheostat is connected to the bus bar 52. also mounted in theinsulating block 44 (Figure 8). The bus bar 52 is'arranged with its leftedge as seen in Figure 8, substantially flush with or very slightlyabove-the surface of block 44.- The frame member 28 is provided with anear 53, which is secured to the housing of the cleaner by a screw orscrews 54, as shown in Figures 3 and 6. Thus mounted, the contact 42 andconducting ring 41 are brought into engagement with the surface of theinsulating block 44, under pressure of a light spring 39.

Referring now again to Figure 9, it will be noted that the ring 41 inthe position shown in solid line overlies the bus bar 52, and contact45, while the conducting element 42 overlies and engages the contact 43.As the contact 42 is grounded through the frame of the device, the lowercommutator brush 55 is connected to the grounded pole of the battery,while the upper commutator brush 56 is connected through contact 45,ring 41 and bus bar 52, to the live side of battery.

When, however, the movable members of the circuit changing device aremoved to the right in Figure 9, into the dotted line position by meansto be presently described, the ring 41 joins the bus bar 52 to contact45 while the grounded contact 42 is now in engagement with contact 43.It ,will thus be seen that the connection of the commutator brushes tothe battery has been reversed as the upper commutator brush is newgrounded, and the lower brush 55 is connected to the non-grounded poleof the battery.

As above briefly set forth, whenever the member 32 is moved to aposition past center with respect to the line joining the pin 32 to thesleeve 36, the switching elements 32 and 33 will be immediately snappedto their extreme alternate position by means of the tension spring 37.The means for causing this operation of the switching elements 32 and 33at appropriate intervals will now be described. Looselv mounted on theshaft 24, is the arm 57, which terminates at its lower end in theseparated portions 58 and 59. The arm 57 is provided concentrically withthe shaft 24 with arcuate slot 60, into which projects a pin 61 carriedby the sector 23. Thus. it will be noted that there is means forproviding lost motion between the sector 23 and the arm 57, i. e., thesector 23 must rotate a distance approximately equal to the length ofthe slot 60. before pin 61 will engage the opposite end of the slot. Thepurpose for this will presently appear.

Secured to the base portion of the U- shaped member 32, as by a screw62, is a finger 63. Finger 63 projects between the portions 58 and 59 ofthe arm 57. Thus, upon rotation of the arm 57 about the axis of theshaft 24, one or the other of the portions 58 or 59 will ultimatelyengage the finger 63, and cause the member 32 to rotate in the samedirection. Now assuming that from the right in Figure the member 32 tothe parts are in the position indicated in Figure 7, and that thecleaner arm 26 is in its extreme left hand position, and furtherassuming that the motor is so connected to the battery 48 as to causethe motor shaft 21 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed 7, itwill be understood that the sector 23 and shaft 24 will be rotated tocause the arm 26 to move to the right and cause the squeegee 27 to passover the windshield. After. the sector, 23 has moved a distancesuflicient to bring the pin 61 into engagement with the right end of theslot 60, arm 57 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, asseenin Figure 7, and arm 58 will be broughtinto engagement with the finger63 pro] ectlng from the switch actuating member 32, and 111 the courseof its further movement will cause pass center with respect to themember 33. At this time, the spring 37 will operate to snap the movablecontact members 41 and 42 into their alternate position, thus reversingthe connection of the battery terminals to the movable windings of themotor, as above explained, and causing the motorvto be driven in theopposite direction, when the reverse of the process just describedwill'take place.

It is to be understood that the slot 60, b1- furcations 58 and 59, andthe movable elements 32 and 33 are so arranged and constructed that theswitch will operate to reverse the battery connections at the appro-.

priate time as the windshield cleaner arm approaches a. horizontalposition. Preferably, the windshield cleaner arm will have a movementover an arc of substantially 100.

The friction of the squeegee 27 on the surface of the windshield 64 willoperate as a brake and tend to prevent excessive speed of rotation ofthe motor. It will also operate to practically instantaneously stop rotation of the motor upon reversal of the battcry connections.

Vthile in the drawing, the motor is not shown in detail, it is to beunderstood that the brushes 55 and 56 operate through the commutator 65to supply current to the usual or any preferred type of movable motorcoils.

The manner of mounting, and the connections for, the rheostat shown inFigure 4 will now be described. The rheostat is carried on the end plate66 and consists of a series of contacts 67 mounted on the insulatingplate 68, and the sections 69 of re: sistance between the successivecontacts 67. Pivotally supported within the opening 70 in the end plate66 is a thumb piece or handle 71, of insulating material, from whichpivot lug 72 projects through an opening 73 in the insulating block 68.Pivot lug 72 projects through an opening in the conducting strip 74, andhas the contact engaging ently appear.

arm 75 rigidly secured thereto? at the outer end by means of the nut 76.The conducting arm 7 4 is joined to a binding post 77 by means of a nut78. Binding post 77 termlnates at its left end as seen in Figure 4 in acontact 79, the purpose of which will pres- The resistance sections 69are connected to the contact 80. Contacts 79 and 80 are arranged to liesubstantially flush with the face of the insulating. block 81. The endplate 66 is provided with a housing flange 82 (Figures 2, 3 and 4),.which is arranged to cover the portion of the device shown in detail inFigure 7. This-flange 82, however, does not extend entirely around theplate 66-, as the mounting late for the movable switch forms a side 0the housing on the side toward the windshield and on a portion of theupper side. The rheostat carrying member may be considered as havingsubstantially the form of a can which has one end and about a third ofits cylindrical surface cut away. The rheostat plate and housing flangecarried thereby are adapted to be secured in position'by means of thescrews or bolts 83, which pass through the end plate 66, and have ascrew threaded engagement with the motor frame. When the plate 66 andflange 82 are clamped in position, the contacts 7 9 and 8 are arrangedto engage respectively bus b 52 and contact 85 mounted in the portion ofthe housing secured to the -motor frame, contact 8 being connected tothe end of the field winding 49 which is remote from the battery 48.Thus, the rheostat 50 may be readily removed from or replaced upon thecleaner for purposes of adjustment or repair, without changing any ofthe electrical connections, and when the rheostat is placed in position,the connections between the battery and bus bar 52 are automaticallymade by contacts ,79 and 80.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figures 10 to 15 of thedrawings, 90 indicates the windshield, to the outside of which issecured in any desired or suitable manner the windshield cleaneroperating device, as shown in Figure 10. This device consistsessentially of a'motor, to the shaft 91 of which is rigidly secured thewindshield operating arm 92, at the lower end of which is supported, inany desired manner, the squeegee 93. Referring to Figure 12, the fieldpole pieces are shown at 94. Associated with each of the polepieces 94is a field winding 95. Rotatably supported in the housing is the shaft91, previously referred to, upon which is mounted the armature structure96, provided with the coils 97. As the shaft 91 of this modification isarranged to rotate through only a fraction of a revolution. the leadingin wires for the coils 97 may be in the nature merely of thatwhencurrent is supplied to the coils 97 in one direction, there will bea tendency to rotate the shaft 91 .in acorresponding direction, but whenthe flow of current through the coils 97 is reversed, there will be atendency' to rotate the shaft 91- in the reverse direction. As thecleaner arm 92 is rigidly connected to the shaft 91, whenever theshaftis rotated by means of the motor mechanism, the squeegee 93 will becaused to pass over the surface of the windshield 90. Means are providedwhereby the flow of current through the coils 97 is automaticallyreversed when the shaft 91 is rotated through an arc of substantially100, thus causing an oscillating rotation of the shaft.

The current reversing means shown 1n the present embodiment is somewhatsimilar to that previously described in connection with the embodimentof the invention shown in Figures 1 to 9, and comprises an elon gatedsubstantially U-shaped element 98, which is pivotally supportedintermediate its ends on the shaft 91. Also rotatably supported on theshaft 91 is the collar 99, provided with the arm 100, which terminatesat one side inthe perforated lug 101. The collar 99 is provided on itsopposite sides with the slots 102, through which projects the pin 103,carried by shaft 91. Extending across the side pieces of the U-shapedmember 98, adjacent to the closed end thereof, is a sleeve 104. Tensionspring 105 has one end secured to the perforated lug 101, and the otherend to the substan tially semi-circular rod 106. The end of rod 106remote from spring 105 encircles the sleeve 104. It will be seen thatwhenever the arm 100 is rotated so that the lug 101 passes across theline passing through the axes of sleeve 104 and shaft 91, spring 105will cause the U-shaped member 98 to snap to its alternate position. Itmay here be noted that the rotary movement of the member 98 about shaft91 is limited in one direction by the abutment 107, and in the otherdirection by abutment 108. Thus. assuming that the outer end of arm 100is moved upwardly as seen in Figure 14, since lug 101 crosses the linepassing through the axes of collar 104, and shaft 91 the left end ofmember 98 will be moved upwardly and the right end moved downwardly intoengagement with abutment 108. Extending through the sleeve 104, is a pin109, Which may be essentially the same in all respects as pin 38 ofFigure 8. Pin 109 of the present modification will be provided withcontact elements corresponding in every way with the contact elements 41and 42, of Figure 8, and the movement of the contact elements in themodification shown in Figures 10 to 15 will be essentially the same inall. respects as the movement of the contact elements of the embodimentshown in F igures'l to 9. The description of this portion of thestructure therefore will not be repeated.

Referring now to Figure 15, it will be noted that when the contact ring110 is in its full line position, it will join bus bar 111 to contact112, thus connecting the live pole of the battery to the upper end ofthe windings 97, as seen in Figure 15. At this time, the oppositeterminal of the winding 97 will be connected to ground throughcontact113, and pin 109 in a manner whichwill now be well understood. When,however, the ring is moved to the position indicated in dotted lines inFigure 15, the lower terminal of coil 97 Will be connected to bus bar111 through contact 114 and the upper terminal of the coil 97 will atthis time be grounded by reason of pin 109 being in engagement withcontact 115. It will thus be seen that whenever the contact elements,pin 109 and ring 110, are moved to their alternate, positions, theconnections of battery to the motor coils is reversed. In thisembodiment of the invention, the motor shaft will be rotated through anarc of about 100 and the battery reversing switch will operate at theend of this rotation to reverse the flow of current, thus causing theshaft to oscillate back and forth.

To vary the speed ofoscillation of the cleaner, a rheostat 116 may beinterposed between the field windings and the battery, as shown inFigure 15. As this modified form of cleaner is mounted on the outside ofthe windshield, I prefer'to place the rhcostat 116 on the instrumentboard or other suitable part of the automobile.

It will be noted that in each of applicants forms of the invention,there is a lost motion between .the driving member and contact actuatingarm. In the device illus trated in Figure 7 it is the engagement of pin61 within the slot 60, while in the form illustrated in Figure 14 it isthe engagement of pin 113 in the slots 102. 1, By providing this lostmotion, applicant is enabled to arrange his contact operating mechanismwithin much less space than would be possible were this lost motionconnection not provided. Furthermore, he is enabled to secure anactuation of the reversing contacts by a very limited travel of theactuating means, which would not be possible without the use of thislost motion connection.

'hile in the herein disclosed embodiments of applicants invention,certain specific details have been adhered to. it is to be understoodthat many modiiicatio us of the device are contemplated and theinvention is therefore to be limited merely by the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a motor control mechanism for v snap mechanism associated withsaid contactor element.

2. In combination, an electric motor, windings for said motor, a shaftarranged to be rotated by current through said windings, an arm, meansconnecting said arm to said shaft, a source of electrical energy, meansconnecting said source to said windings, and means associated with saidshaft for automatically reversing the connections of said source to saidwindings incident to a predetermined degree of oscillation of said shaftcomprising a contactor element having central and annular contacts and asnap-over mechanism for actuating said contactor element.

3. In combination, an electric motor, windings for said motor, anoscillating eleinent adapted to be driven from said electric motor, asource of electrical energy, means connecting said source to saidwindings, and means for reversing the connections of said source to saidwindings comprising a contactor "having a center electrode, an annularelectrode positioned around said center electrode and insulatedtherefromand a snap mechanism for actuating said contactor element, saidsnap mechanism being actuated by means carried by said oscillatingelement and responsive to a predetermined degree of oscillation of saidelement.

- 4. In combination, a'motor and a shaft oscillated thereby, snap switchmechanism operable by said shaft for effecting a reversal in the oration of the motor, a rheostat connecte in circuit with the motor, ahousing member supporting the rheostat and cooperating with the motor toform an enclosure for said rheostat and said switch mecha nism, meansattaching the housing member to said motor, and a control adjustingmember mounted on the exterior of said housing member for adjusting saidrheostat to control the operation of said motor and said shaft.

5. In a windshield cleaner operating unit, a motor, a. shaft oscillatedthereb a snap switch mechanism for reversing t e operation of the motor,a finger extending from said switch mechanism, a pivoted actuating armhaving parts straddling said finger for alternately engaging and movingthe same to effect operation of said switch mechanism,

and an operative play connection betweensaid actuating arm and saidshaft for oscillating the arm.

6. In a windshield cleaner operating unit, a motor, an oscillatableshaft, a worm driven by the motor, a gear sector fixed on the shaft andmeshing with the worm, a snapswitch mechanism, an actuating arm pivotedon said shaft and having a part engageable with a part of said switchmechanism for actuating the same, and a play connection between said'arm and said gear sector.-

7. In a windshield cleaner operating unit, a motor having a frame part,a shaft operated by the motor, a removable housing member cooperatingwith said frame part to form a chamber, said frame part having a contactelectrically connected to the motor, and said housing member havin a.contact adapted to be brought into electrical contact lpart for es- 7erethrough means of manually controlling the operation of said motor. I

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30thday of Janna1922. ALBERT G. M0 ALEB.

